Aftermath ✧ Sebastian Sallow

chapter thirty-four

Sebastian's Perceptive

Hogsmeade was busier than normal that weekend. The excitement of the first real snowfall seemed to draw people from their homes to explore. 

Ominis and Eva trailed closely nearby as Adelaide led me around the town in excitement. Even if Ominis wasn't thrilled about it the idea of a date with Eva, selfishly having both of them around brought a comforting safety that made it easier to enjoy the day without worrying. 

After a few stops around the small town and grabbing some sweets from Honeydukes, the four of us headed over to the Three Broomsticks.

It was the first day in weeks that I felt like I could finally relax around Adelaide without feeling like a total arse. I did love her, but I was never going to love her the way she wanted. Even as we walked through the cold streets of the town she just glowed with warmth and happiness. Her joy was so contagious that some days I worried that I'd ruin it. 

"Look who it is!" A soft voice cheered mischievously as our group entered the tavern. Both Poppy and Garreth had been sitting near the bar together as we began to look for a table.

Adelaide happily tossed her arms around her friend as Poppy snapped a devilish glare in my direction. I'll make things right myself. Suddenly I remembered the threat Poppy had passed along to Ominis. She was mad at me for not being honest with Adelaide. I still didn't know what she had meant by making things right, but her devilish grin made a clear end to the relaxing day.

"Would you two like to join us for drinks?" Adelaide cheered greeting the couple.

Poppy happily obliged as the six of us moved to a larger table in the back of the tavern's first floor. As I reached for one of the open chairs, Garreth quickly pulled the chair out of my hand for himself, forcing me to move further against the wall. 

He looked up at me with worrisome eyes, "Sorry, I get claustrophobic."

Awkwardly I took the chair next to him, cut off from the rest of the tavern. Adelaide slid into the corner taking the other side next to me. As the circular table wrapped around, Eve sat next to Adelaide. Ominis directly across from me. And finally Poppy sat in between Ominis and Garreth as the circle closed. 

Something about the arrangement felt off. In fact, everything about being in the tavern felt oddly uncomfortable from the moment we entered. 

"Drinks?" I asked after hanging my coat against the back of the chair.

"I'll come with," Garreth offered standing with me. 

Ominis bitterly stood as well deciding the gentlemanly thing to do was give the ladies a moment to chat as we grabbed drinks for the table. 

As we approached the bar, Garreth pushed himself against my shoulder, before awkwardly asking, "Hey, so what are we drinking?" His voice disheveled and his eyes darted back and forth as if he had seen a ghost.

"Are you alright?" I snapped. 

Garreth's blackened eye had finally healed with only a little greenish hue over his skin, but he looked panicked around the tavern.

"Fine, everything fine," He attempted to dismiss as we placed the order for the table.

I looked around the tavern and then toward Ominis standing on my other side, his head was low as he remained uncharacteristically quiet. Although the whole past week he had been more quiet than usual as if there was a rain cloud lingering over his head. 

The wand in his hand pulsed red which told me that he was taking an account of the room. My eyes skimmed across the first floor before Ominis spoke up, "Perhaps we should head back to Hogwarts soon?"